Conveyer



S Q www Q j 3 Sheets-Sheet l F. CARTLIDGE CONVEYER Filed Dec. 11, 1959 y INVENTOR am? @lj/2f e wa.

ATTORNEY April 29, 1941.

Apri-l 29, 1941. F. CARTLIDGE 2,239,718.

' coNvsYEn Filed Dea. 11. 1939 s sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY April 29, 1941. F. CARTLIDGEl CONVEYER Filed Dec. 11, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 29, 1941 UNI-TED STAT ESy PAT ENT OFFICE QONVEYER Frank Cartlidge, Chicago,rlll., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company,y Chicago, Ill. a cor-poration ofv Illinois I f Y Application December 11, 193,9,y Serial No. 308,564.

6 Claims.

This, invention relatesy to improvements in convey-ers, and more particularly to improvements in articulated conveyors of the center strand endless chainandiiight type adapted for use with coal` loading machines ofy the type operable at the working face-of a mine. n

TheA principall objects of my invention are to provide ay new. andk improved articulated conveyer of aI novel and simplified form and construction including apair of spaced apart conveyer trough sections, one of which is. horizontally swingable with respect to theother;x and a plurality of pivotally connected trough segments for connecting said troughl sections together, and; arranged to form a guide for the upperA and lower runs of thechain.

My present invention is. somewhat similar to that shown in a. Prior application Serial No- 108,189.,v led by meoni October; ,2.9,V 1936, andl entitled Improvemen-tsE in conveyers, and, now Patent No. 2,208,269, but, differsy therefrom in the form. and; arrangement ofthe intermediate connecting trough segments.

Other objects of m-y invention will appear from timev to time asV the following speeiiioation proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan; View oi a. onveyer oon.- structed in accordance with my. invention, with certain, parts broken; awaygv and certain other partsv shown in horizontal. section;

Figure 2 is a plan Viewv of the conveyor, with. certain partsbroken away and certain. other parts shown in. horizontal section, showingk thev conveyer in one. extreme positiOIlA of articulation.;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View in sideY elevaton of the Conveyor, with certain parts. broken away and, certain, other rr'firts4 in. longitudinal section: Figure 4.. is an enlarged fragmentary king-if.-

tudioel sectional. view of. an intermediate P01- tior'l` of. the. ooriveyer;

gitudiual section.4

In the drawings the, embodiment of, myinventon illustrated is shown as. being mounted on the rear end of' a, truclg |0.,.W.hich may be a truck of. a traok mounted loading machine.,

Said. load- (cl. 19g- 109) shown in an` application ISer-ial No. 308,565, ledj herewith, and is not herein shown or described in detail, since it is no part of my present invention. f

The conveyer includes a forward trough section II mountedron the frame of the truck III and having a rear end I2 which ismounted on trunnion supports I3, I3 for movement about a horizontal transverse axis, to permit vertical adjustrnent ofY ay rear' swinging discharge trough section I4 of said conveyer, so that the rear end of said conveyer may be adjusted for loading into cars or receptacles of varying heights. Said discharge trough section is mounted on an arm I5 which in turn is mounted on Va support bracket I6, for lateral swinging movement with respect thereto. Said support bracket projects rearwardly from land' forms a par-t of the frame for said vertically adjustable rear end oi said forward trough section.

A plurality 'of intermediate interconnected trough segments II, I'I are provided to connect the trough sections IIY and I4 together, to form a continuous trough from one end of the conveyer toA the other, when the conveyer is in various positionsl of articulation. Said trough segments each include. an upper trough-like portion I8v and a. lower chain guiding portion I9. Said lower por-tions are provided to guide the return run of an endless conveyerchain 20 on the ends of `spaced apart flights 2|, 2l, projecting laterallyfrom opposite sides thereof at'suitable inter-vals. Said endless chain may be of any laterally exible type, and has said iiights connected thereto in such a manner as to permit said chain andy flights toV follow the curve of said trough segments when the conveyer is in various positions of articulation.

. The endless chain 20 extendsv around a suitable direction changing device (not shown) at the forward end of the conveyer. From thence it extends along thev forward trough section II and the vertically adjustable rear end I2 thereof,v and along the` trough-like portions I8, I8 ofthe trough segments I'I, I1. From said trough segments it extends rearwardly along a bottom plate'23 of` said discharge trough section, to and around a direction changing device 24, at the 1 rear end ofsaid discharge' trough section. From I saiddirection changing device, said endless chain extends forwardly beneath the bottom plate 23, ,in andv through the lowerchain guiding portions I9, I9 of said trough segments, and forwardly therefrom over an idler 25, under a drive sprocking machine may her of a type similar to that 55 et'Zand over an idler 21 to the` forward end piston (not shown) mounted therein. A piston rod 30, extensible from said piston, has pivotal connection with a bracket 3l, projecting out-- wardly from a side wall of said discharge trough section. y 1 Y The supporting and rocking connectionl between the arm I5 and support bracket I6, for supporting the trough section I4 forlateral swinging movement, is similar to that disclosed in an application Serial No. 281,127, led by Chester E. Andershock on June 26, 1939, now Patent No. 2,197,169, so will not herein be described in detail. A cam-shaped rocking member 32 is secured to and depends from the arm I5 a slight distance rearwardly of the forward end of said arm. Said rocking member is adapted to extend within a guide 33 formed in the bracket I6, adjacent the rear endV thereof. Said rocking member has a concave portion facing the forward end of the conveyer and a` rear bearing portion 34 engaging the rearl end'of said guide, the center of which rear end extends inwardly beyond the sides thereof. A retaining plate 36 is secured tothe underside of said rocking member and engages the bottom of said bracket, to retain said rocking member within said guide and to hold said arm from vertical movement with respect to the support bracket IS.

As the discharge trough section I4 is swung to one side or the other of the longitudinal center line of` the conveyer, the ends of the rocking member 32 engage opposite sides of the guide 33, and the rear bearing portion 34 of said rocking member is engaged with the rear portion of said guide, by the piston rod 30.

ing or convex formation, engagement of the rear bearing portion 34 of said rocking member will vary the arc about which said trough section swings, during swinging movement thereof, and compensate for decreases in the length of the path of travel of the chain 20, as said trough section is swung from a central position to one extreme side or the other of the conveyer, and thus maintain an even tension on said chainin all positions of articulation of the conveyer.

Referring now in particular to the articulated connection between the trough sections II and I2 forming the novel features of my invention, the trough segments I1, I1 are pivotally connected together by pivotal pins 43, 43. The

upper trough-like portion I8 of said forward trough section has pivotal connection with a rear end of a bottom plate ,31of the vertically adjustpermit extension or retraction of said discharge trough section with respect to said trough segments, during articulation of the conveyer.

Since the rear f portion of said guide is of a forwardly project-` veyer. f

respect to each other and with respect to the conveyer-bottom plates 31and 39 (see Figures 2 and 6). The gaps betweensaid trough segments are closed by winged gap closing portions `44, 44 and 49, 49, herein shown as being formed integral with said bottoms of said trough-like and-chain guiding portions respectively, and projecting forwardly- .from the ends thereof. The

`forward andv rear ledges of said winged portions are beveled, to prevent loose material from fouling said trough segments.

The rear end of the bottom plate 31 of the vertically adjustable portion I2 of the forward trough section II is provided with recessed Aportions 40, 40 in alignment with the bottom of the upperl trough-like portions I8 of the trough segments 1, I1. Said recessed portions are adapted to be overlapped lby the forwardly projecting wings of the winged gap closing portions 44 of the forwardmost trough segment I1, to clos'e the gaps between saidtrough segment and bottom plate in all positions of articulation of the con- Said bottom plate is provided with a rearwardly projecting rounded tongue 4I which engages a corresponding rounded socket formed in the forward end of the winged portion 44 of the bottom of said trough-like portion. Said tongue is pivotally connected to a forwardly projecting tongue 42 of the bottom of said upper trough-like portion by means of a pivotalpin or rivet 43. Saidy gap closingA member or winged bottom has a tongue 46, projecting rearwardly Vtherefrom and beyond the rear end of the botlO projecting tongue 42 of theA bottom of the next adjacent trough segment, by means of one of bottomfits in .agcorresponding socket formed in ythe forward en d of thev bottom plate 39 of the telescopic trough section 38. Said bottom plate is provided with forwardly projecting outer ends which overlap the bottom ofthe uppe1` trough- ...like portion `IIlFof the last trough segment I1, to

close the gaps'fbetween said bottom plate and trough segment.l j

Each upper side wall of the trough-like portion of each trough segment I1 has a vertically extending outwardly flared portion 51, conforming to theform ofthe trough of the forward and discharge trough sections. The gaps between the side walls are closed by means of closure members 59,V 59, secured to the inside of each wupper side wall and projecting rearwardly there: from and overlapping. the next adjacent side wall. Said closure members maybe so formed as to continually engage the next adjacent side wall, or may be yieldable as is shown in .the

mdrawings. Other yieldable closure members S0,

`.'I'he lower-.guide portions I9, I 9of the troug y6I) are secured to the outwardly flared portions 57, 51 and overlap the next adjacent outwardly fiaredportion, to ,close lthe gaps between the outwardly flared portions of said side walls.

segments I1, I1 are similar in construction to `portions are connected together.

the upper trough-like portions thereof, and may be pivotally connected together and to the front and rearportions of the conveyer in substantially the same manner as said upper trough-like The winged gap closing portions 49 of the forward bottom chain guiding portion I9 overlap a lower guide plate 54 of the vertically adjustable portion I2 of the front conveyer II. A pivotal pin or rivet 55 is provided to pivotally connect said lower guide portion with said guide plate. The extreme rear guide portion is likewise connected to the forward end of a guide plate 56, slidably mounted with respect to the forward end of the discharge conveyer, by means of one of the pivotal pins 55. The spaces between the side walls of said chain guiding portions are closed in all positions of articulation of the conveyer by yieldable closure members 50, 50. Said closure members are secured to each side wall of said chain guiding portion and extend forwardly therefrom to overlap the next adjacent forward side wall (see Figure l). Thus, a box-like guide is provided for the return run of the conveyer, which is similar in form to the upper articulated trough portion of the co-nveyer, to positively guide the chain as it moves towards the forward end of the conveyer and to prevent slack or backslapping thereof when the conveyer is in various positions of articulation.

It .may thus be seen that an articulated vsegmental trough has been provided between the trough sections II and I4, to close the gaps between said trough sections and permit lateral swinging movement of one with respect to the other. It may also be seen that each trough segment is so formed as to form a channelled guide for the lower run of the conveyor, and that the segmental trough construction is such as to permit the uninterrupted travel of material from one end of the conveyer to the other, when said trough sections are in various positions of adjustment with respect to each other.

Means are provided to equalize movement ofv the trough segments I'I, I'I with respect to each other during swinging movement of the discharge trough section I4, so each trough segment will move the same proportionate distance, and so all of said trough segments will be returned to a normal postion, when the trough section I4 is in longitudinal alignment with the trough section II. Said means, `as herein shown, comprises a plurality of interconnected laterally iiexible parallel links E3, 63. Said links are pivotally connected together at their ends and intermediate their ends. The forward and rear end links each have links 64, 64 pivot'ally connected to the ends thereof and pivotally connected together. A pin 65 is provided to pivotally connect the forward end links 64, 64 together. Said pin projects from a lug 6B, extending outwardly from a side wall El of the vertically swingable portion of the forward trough section II. Lugs E8, 68 project outwardly fro-m the outside of one side wall of each trough segment I'I and have pins 69, 69 projecting therefrom, which pivotally connect alternate pairs of links 63, E3 to one of said trough segments, intermediate the ends of said links. The rear end links 64, 54 are pivotally connected to the forward end of a side wall II of the discharge trough section I4, by means of a pin III projectingoutwardly from said side wall. Upon swinging movement of the discharge trough section of the conveyor, said panallel links will yield laterally and extend or retract each intermediate trough segment an equal proportionate distance to keep the gaps between said trough segments closed in all positions of articulation of the conveyer, and form a continuous bottom from one end of the conveyer to the other.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof yand the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from `the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention tothe specific embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an articulated conveyer, a pair of spaced apart trough sections, one of which is laterally swingable with respect to the other, and means for connecting said trough sections together to form a continuous trough from one end of one trough section to the opposite end of the other including a plurality of intermediate connecting trough segments having parallel spaced yupright side Walls, said trough segments being pivotally connected together and the extreme end trough segments being pivotally connected to adjacent ends of said trough sections, each of said trough segments having forwardly projecting winged portions overlapping said next adjacent trough segment and closing the gaps formed therebetween, and the side walls of said trough segments having exible members extending therefrom and engaging the sidewalls of said next adjacent trough se-gments.

v 2. In an articulated conveyer, a pair of spaced apart trough sections, one of which is laterally swingable with respect to the other, an endless chain having ights projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof, said chain turning about a horizontal axis at the rear end of said conveyer and the upper and lower runs thereof traveling -in coincidental paths in a Vertical plane, and means for connecting said tro-ugh sections together to form a co-ntinuous trough from one end of one trough section to the opposite end of the other and to guide the upper and lower runs of said chain upon swinging movement of said trough sections with respect to each other including a plurality of interconnected trough segments, each of said segments including an upper trough-like portion for guiding the upper run of the chain on the ends of its projecting flights and a lower guiding portion for guiding the lower run of the chain on the ends of its projecting flights.

3. In an articulated conveyer, a pair of spaced apart trough sections, one of which is laterally swingable with respect to the other, an endless chain having ights projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof, said chain turning about a horizontal axis at the rear end of said conveyer and the upper and lower runs thereof traveling in coincidental paths in a vertical plane, and means for connecting said trough sections together to form a continuous trough from one end of one trough section to the opposite end of the other and to guide the upper and lower runs of said chain upon swinging movement of said trough sections with respect to each other including'a plurality of trough segments pivotally connected together, each of said trough segments including an upper trough-like portion Iand a lower guiding portion for the lower run of the chain, and the bottoms of said upper and lower portions having winged portions projecting therefrom and overlapping the bottoms of said next adjacent trough segment, to bridge the gaps between said troughv segments.

4. In an articulated conveyer, a pair of spaced apart trough sections, one of which is laterally swingable with respect to the other, an endless .chain having flights projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof, said chain turning about a horizontal axis at the rear end of said conveyer and the upper and lower runs thereof traveling in coincidental paths in a vertical plane, and means to connect said trough sections together to form a continuous trough from one end of one trough section to the opposite end of the other and guide the upper and lower runs of said chain on the ends of said flights upon swinging movement of said trough :sections with respect to each other including a plurality of trough segments pivotally connected together ,each of said trough segments including an upper trough-like portion having a bottom and upright side walls, and a lower guiding portion, for the lower run of the chain, said lower guiding portion having ia bottom spaced beneath the bottom of said upper troughlike portion and having upright sides forming a downward continuation of the sides of said upper trough-likeportion, said bottoms of said upper and lower portions of said trough segments having winged projections overlapping the bottoms of said next adjacent trough segments, to close the gaps therebetween, and said side walls of said trough-like and chain guiding portionsI having flexible portions overlapping said next adjacent rearward side wall.

5. In an articulated conveyer, a pair of spaced apart trough sections, one of which is laterally swingable with respect to the other, a plurality of pivotally connected intermediate trough segments for connecting said trough sections together in all positions of articulation thereof, a center strand endless chain having flights projecting laterally therefrom, guided for movement along said trough sections, the ends of said ights engaging thesides of said trough segments and serving to guide said chain along said trough sections, when the conveyer `is in various positions of articulation, means for positively extending or retracting said swinging trough section during swinging movement thereof, to take care of variations in the length of the path of travel of said chain, and to maintain a uniform tension on said chain in all positions of articulation of the conveyer, and a longitudinally slidable connection between said swingable trough and intermediate trough segments, to permit extension or retraction thereof with respect to said trough segments.

6. In anarticulated conveyer, a pair of spaced apart trough sections, one of which is laterally s'wingable with respect to the other, a plurality of pivotally connected intermediate trough segments for connecting said trough sections together in all positions of articulation thereof, a center strand endless chain having flights projecting laterally therefrom guided for movement along said trough sections, the ends of said ilights engaging the sides of said trough lsegments and serving to guide said chain along said trough sections when the conveyer is in various positions of articulation, means for positively extending or retracting said swinging trough section during swinging movement thereof to take care of variations in the length of the path of travel of said chain and to maintain a uniform tension on said chain in all positions of articulation of the conveyer, and a longitudinally slida'ole connection between said swingable trough and intermediate trough segments to permit extension or retraction thereof with respect to said trough segments including a trough section nested within said swingable trough section and slidablymovable with respect thereto, and a pivotal connection between said slidable trough section and one of said end intermediate trough segments.

FRANK CARTLIDGE. 

